Method of cleaning out obstructions from conduits



J. V. OBRIEN March 10, 1953 METHOD OF CLEANING OUT OBSTRUCTIONS FROMCONDUITS Original Filed Jan. 15, 1948 (ummm/kfw ffm/0N Patented Mar. 10,1953 METHOD OF CLEANING OUT OBSTRUC- TIONS FROM CONDUITS John V. OBrien,Park Ridge, Ill.

Original application January 13, 1948, Serial No. I

Divided and this application October 14, 1952, Serial No. 314,716

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in methods of cleaning outobstructions from conduits of which sewers, drains, pipes and the likeare examples and it consists of the matters hereinafter described andmore particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

This application is a division of my co-pending application SerialNumber 2,037, filed January 13, 1948.

Cross-reference is also hereby made to my copending application Ser. No.2,038, filed January 13, 1948, entitled Methods of and ApparatusEmploying an Elongated Flexible Member for Cleaning Out ObstructionsFrom Conduits, which relates to somewhat similar subject matter.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved method ofremoving obstructions'from conduits with the aid of a coil which may beentered into and worked along an obstructed conduit while in asubstantially free flexible condition and then reduced in diameter by anaxial turning of the coil after its work end has engaged an obstructioncausing the coil to grip a core within the coil whereby the coreinternally supports and reinforces the coil against damage when the coiltransmits the power required to turn the coil at the work end as whenremoving an obstruction.

The above mentioned object of the invention,

together with others, along with the advantages thereof, will more fullyappear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, substantially on a full sizescale of the work end of one form and size of apparatus, including acoil and a core that may be advantageously employed in carrying out theimproved method and showing one way in which the core may be operativelyattached'to the coil to one point in the length of the coil, the spacebetween the coil and core being somewhat exaggerated.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. l but on anenlarged scale, through a part of the coil and core, back of thework-end of the coil and more accurately showing the annular clearancespace between the external surface of the core and the internal surfacevof the coil when the coil is free from torque.

Fig. 3 is a View in elevation, better showing the preferred form ofexible core employed with the coil of Figs. l and 2 and on a scaleenlarged over that of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are detail longitudinal sectional views throughparts of the coil showing various ways in which longitudinaldisplacement between the work end of the coil and the core is prevented.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through a part of an obstructeddrain and shows one way in which the obstruction may be removedtherefrom, in accordance with the improved method, when employing thecoil and core construction and which will be more fully described later.

The improved method may be carried out by apparatus, which in generalincludes a closely wound helical coil of desired length and Ia ilexiblecore for use in the longitudinal bore or passageway of the coil. Coilsof this kind are wound either L. H. helix or R. H. helix. The diameterof the core, with reference to that of the bore o1' the coil is suchthat when the core is disposed within the bore, a slight clearance ispresent therebetween. The coil is provided with a work end, which is theend first entered into and worked along a conduit, until it reaches theobstruction therein. It is desired that the core be carried in the boreof the coil and in a manner preventing endwise movement of the corerearwardly from the work end, though permitting a limited longitudinalslipping of the core relative to the coil, as when the coil follows atortuous path in use and as the coil is inserted in the conduit to becleaned. It, therefore, is preferred that the core be attached at onepoint in its length to the coil, adjacent the work end of the coil, sothat the core will be pulled along with the coil.

After the coil, with the core disposed in its bore, is loc-ated in aconduit with its work end engaged with the obstruction therein, the coilis turned axially either by means of a hand tool or a power tool in theproper direction. Assuming the coil to be wound with left hand helix, asindicated in the drawings, the coil will be turned clockwise, as Viewedin Fig. 2, and as indicated by the arrow. With the work end engaged withan obstruction, the axial turning of the coil in the directionmentioned, builds up torque in the coil, causing a reduction in diameterto the limit afforded by the slight clearance space between the core andbore of the coil. The coil is thus caused to engage the core throughoutits length and be internally supported and reinforced thereby againstpremature opening up, breaking or kinking. However, at the time the coilwas being inserted into the conduit, it was not in gripping contact withthe core, and hence acted as a relatively free spring readily able toaccommodate itself to the tortuous path usually found in conduits fromWhich obstructions are to be removed. While the diameter of the coil isbeing reduced, its length is also being increased, but the space betweenthe core and coil permits the necessary slippage between coil and core.Hence, neither the coil nor the core is stretched or strained, so thatboth return to normal condition after removal from the conduit, providedof course the apparatus be used within the limits for which it isdesigned.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustratedin Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawing, the improved method may be carriedout by an apparatus that includes an outer member or envelope lll in theform of a long coil having an internal bore or. passage designed toreceive a flexible core il.

The coil i9 is preferably made of a so-called music steel Wire having acarbon content of 0.85 to 0.95. Such wire is obtainable in the market,is known to. the trade as a bright music Wire, and Well serves thepurpose. Preferably the wire has such a cross sectional shape that thesides of adjacent convolutions thereof may roll relatively in thebending of the coil. Preferably, therefore, and as shown, the wire has acircular cross section.

The coil l0, which is preferably produced by die soiling machinesemploying adjustable dies or coiling pointsv which determine the outsidediameter of the coil, includes a relatively long body l2 having arelatively short tool carrying portion I3 at one end. The diameter ofthe body portion I2 of the coil is dependent upon the type of work forwhich the apparatus'is to be used. In coils of different diameters,preferably diiferent diameters of wire are employed.

Fig. 1 shows one size of coil, which may be 50, 75 or lOOfeet or more inlength, and which is'well adapted for use in the sewer cleaning` art,especially for the smaller size conduits. The outside diameter of thebody l2 of the coil is dependent upon the diameter of the Wire to beused therefon the outside diameter of the core Il to b e used therewith,and the amount of clearance between the coil and core. For a corehaving-an outside diameter of .217/ .219 and using a Wire of .138" forthe coil, suchV Wire is tension Wound to such an outside diameter as toafford an;r overall clearance of .GOS/.007" between the core and thebody of the coil. Such a coil body will have an outside diameterapproximating onehalf of an inch. Assuming the core to be centrallydisposed Within the coil, there would then be anannular space of.CD25/.0085" between the outside surface of the core and the insidesurface or bore of the coil.

As shown, the portion i3 of the coil has an inside diameter of about0.60 inch for one-half its length and gradually decreases in diameterforthe other half of its length, to meet the associated end of the bodyl2 of the coil. In said portion i3 of the coil, the convolutions areclosely coiled or wound, but preferably are not in tension, beinglheated to a` straw color to accomplish this result. Thus, this portion,which is the leading` end of the coil, has more ilexibility for bendinglaterally of the axis of the coil and is thus better adapted for passagethrough instance, includes a pair ofcurved cutting arms.

Other forms of tools andwork ends may be pro- 4 vided, the formillustrated in the drawing being merely one well adapted for the useintended.

The core Il is preferably in the form of a ilexible member, such as usedfor the core part in the drives for speedometer and dental engines. Acore which has been found satisfactory comprises a central wire llc anda. plurality of multiple spring wire strands Ha with the strands in eachlayer Wound in opposite directions. Material of this kind, which is bestillustrated in Fig. 3 and known as speedometer core may beV obtainedinthe open market in various diameters. and no claim is herein made tosuch material, per se.

It will be understood, of course, that the nurnber of layers and thenumbers of strands in each layer and the sizes of wire will vary fordifferent or specific sizes. However, it is believedthat a generaldescription of certain sizes of cores VWill be helpful. Hence, the Wirerequirements for three examples or sizes, known as 220 speedometer core,187 speedometer core and speedometer core will-be given.

Wire'requz'rements, 130 speedometer core Helix Layer No. Wire Die.

` Degrees 1 I .013 Steel Shaft Wire. 4 39 .Q13 Steel Shaft Wire. 4 19.013 Steel Shaft Wire. 4l 14 .015 Steel Shaft Wire. 4 1l .O17 SteelShaft Wire.

Actual O. D .125/.127 Weigh; ...lbs per/M Feet 32 Internal Friction .13Deflection Factor:

Windup 1'54 U'nwind 70 Wire requirements, 187 speedometer core I HelixLayer No. A'rffwire Dia.

Degrees 1 .017 Steel Shaft Wire. 44 37 .015 Steel Shaft Wire. 4 18 .015Steel Shaft Wire. 4 13 .017 Steel Shaft Wire.v 4. 1()v .017 SteelShaitWire. 4 10 .022 Steel Shaft Wire.

Actual 0L D. .18d/.188 Weight lbs.

per/M Feet 69 .07

Internal Friction Deflection Factor:

Windup. 15 Uuwind 31v Wire requirements, 220 speedometer core l HelixLayer No. I ggg' Wire Dia.

Degrees 1 .civ sneer shaft wire. 4. 37 .015 Steel Shaft Wire. L l .015.Steel Shaft Wire. 4 14 .017 Steel Shaft Wire. 4 13 .024.Steel-`haftWire` It, 13. .steelhatwira ActualQ. D` .21T/.219 Weight lbs.per/f'M'Feet 100 Internal Friction .09, Deflection. Factor Windup 9Unwind 1'5 When using 220A speedometer core (Example l) having anoutside diameter of .217 .219 for the core' il 'and' using a` .138."5diameter wire for the coil body, the coil body wire is wound to providean overall clearanceof .005/ .007" between the outside of the core andthe bore of the coil. Assuming the core to be disposed centrally'in thebore, there will be a clearance space of between .0025" /.0035 betweeneach side of the core and the associated side of the bore. Thisclearance space is best shown and indicated in Fig. 2 by the numeral I6.The body I2 of such a coil will have an outside diameter ofapproximately Examples of other more commonly used cores and coils willbe given for illustrative purposes. Using 187speedometer core (Example2) having an outside diameter of .186"/.l88" for the core Il and using.120 diameter wire for the coil body, the coil body wire is wound toprovide an overall clearance of .005"/.007" between the outside of thecore and the bore of the coil. Assuming the core is disposed centrallyin the bore there will be a clearance space of between .0025/ .0035between each side of the core and the associated side of the bore. willhave an outside diameter of about .433".

Using 130 speedometer core (Example 3) having an outside diameter of.125/.127 for the core II and using .080 diameter wire for the coilbody, the coil body wire is wound to provide an overall clearance of.005 .007" between the outside of the core and the bore of the coil.Assuming the core to be disposed centrally in the bore, there will be aclearance space of between .0o25"/.O035" between each side of the coreand the associated side of the bore. Such a body I2 will have an outsidediameter of about .292".

Thus, it is assured that while the core is permanently carried by thecoil, a relative' longitudinal slippage may ocur between them in passingaround and about a tortuous path as is'sometimes presented by a conduit,and this without a complete displacement between the core and coil.Thus, both the core and the coil are in their most freely flexiblecondition readily to follow said path and this Without producing a kinkor permanent change of form therein. As soon as sumcient torque isimposed upon the coil, it constricts itself to engage the core so thecore affords an internal support for the coil against the action oftorque tending to fracture the core or produce kinks or breaks therein.

In Fig. 1 is illustrated one convenient way t0 form an attachmentbetween the core and the coil. Attachment is provided by reducing thelast three coils Il of the body I2, where it joins the end portion I3,thereby tightly gripping the core at that point. This reduced portion ofthe coil may be provided at the time the coil is formed, in which eventthe core would then be placed in position to be gripped. Or, if desired,the entire coil may be formed first, the core inserted and roller or diepressure applied along the several coils I1 to reduce the coil locally.

Fig. 4 illustrates another way in which the core may be secured to thecoil as by a weld I8, which weld may be made from the end of the portionI3 before the plug I4 has been applied, if a plug is to be used.

In Fig. 5 the end of the core is shown as being upset or flattened toform an enlarged head I9 therefor, which prevents the core, as a whole,from moving longitudinally away from the portion I 3, toward the pointwhere the coil is turned, but still permits the relative slippagebetween the coil and core when they are being threaded through a conduithaving bends, elbows and the Such a body I2 like therein, orlwhen'thecoil is wound upon a storage reel or drum.

' In Fig. 6, the end of the core is shown as being indirectly attachedto the coil through the medium of the tool carrying plug I4. In thisinstance the end of the core is welded, as at 22, in a recess in theinner end of said plug. It will be understood that the part I3 is as inFig. 1 and will taper to join with the main body I2, but without anyreduced portion I'I.

In Fig. 7 the core is shown as having its end fixed in a spherical body2|, located in the inner end of the portion I3 of the coil and whichbody is of such diameter as to prevent its entrance into the body I2 ofthe coil. The ball 2I is preferably applied to the end of the corebefore inserting it into the coil from the open extremity of the endportion I3A`of the coil.

In the' use of any of the structures above mentioned, a tool, eitherhand-operated or motoroperated, is used for turning the coil axially andthis in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. These tools are or may beconventional and are well known in the art. I have illustrated a motoroperated tool 22 having a chuck 25 to grip and turn the coil. After thework or tool end of the coil has engaged an obstruction, for example 24in Fig. r8, in a conduit and the turning action is continued in theproper direction, torque is built up in the coil and this causes thecoil to constrct itself in diameter and engage the core as beforeexplained.

` From the above, it will be obvious that in using the method disclosedherein, the coil functions substantially as a free flexible spring shaftwhich will readily slide around bends and elbows and past joints in aconduit thereby greatly facilitating insertion of the coil into theconduit. When the work end engages the obstruction, however, and turningmovement is imparted to the coil in the manner indicated, from a pointoutside the'conduit, to cause a reduction in the size of the coil andthereby engage the core, the core acts to provide internal support.Tests show greatly improved power transmitting capacity without injuryto the coil.

It will also be understood that while the core extends substantiallythroughout the entire length of the coil, the coil and core are onlyjoined or prevented from moving relatively in a longitudinal directionat the work end. Hence, relative longitudinal movement between the coiland core can readily take place as the coil is reduced in diameter andincreased in length in the preliminary stages of removing an obstructionfrom a conduit. Because the core is held at the work end of the coilagainst backward movement, the core moves along with the coil as it isinserted into the conduit. Therefore, there is always part of the coreclosely adjacent the work end of the coil under all conditions, inposition to support the surrounding coil when the diameter of the coilis reduced, as before explained.

Several examples of coil sizes, cores, space between core and coil andwire requirements, etc. have been given. While these have been foundsatisfactory in actual use, it should be understood they have been givenas by way of illustration and not necessarily by way of limitation,except where the functioning requires such limitation. For example, theannular space between the core and bore of the coil has been given as ofthe order of .0025/.0035" but this may vary, depending upon the size andcharacteristics of the wire of which the coil is formed. The purpose ofthe space between the coil and core' is topermit the coil initially tofunctionas a: substantially'free coil with relative slippage betweencoiland core and then when subjected to torque, which clon gates it andreduces its diameter, to be supported internally by the core whereby toincreasethe power transmission capacity of a given coil whilstmaintaining it in good condition. Hence, while the space between coreand coil may bemore or less than that given, it should never for anyparticular core-coil combination be so small that the freedom of thecoil in the initial part of an obstruction removing operation isimpaired to the extent that will cause damage to the coil orcore whenthe device is used for its intended purpose and within the power rangefor which the device is` designed.

Again, the space between the core` and coil should not be toogreat-otherwise damage to the coil will be caused before it engages theAcore and is given internal support thereby. Therefore, the maximumspace between the core and coil should be such that it can be taken upby the reduction, under'torque action, of the coil diameter before theelastic limit ofthe particular coil wire is exceeded. Hence, thesmallest amount of space between the core and coil, which. will affordfree slippage between coil and core in the initial part of theoperation, is generally preferred.

Specification of cores which have been` satisfactorily used, have beengiven, but these too are by way of illustration. For example, wireVother than steel may be used where corrosion is an importantconsideration. The wire of the core` should, however, have springcharacteristics` so, that when flexed it will return to lnormal andnottake a permanent kink orv set.

Hence, while in describingthe invention I have' referred in detail tothe fornn arrangementv andi construction of and diameters of thev partsin.-Y volved, the same is to be considered only inthe illustrative senseand therefore I` do not'wishto.

be limitedV thereto except as may be specically set forthin-the appendedclaims.

I. claim asV my invention:

I'. The method of cleaning out obstructions from conduits whichconsistsin feeding a hollow freely flexible spring wire coil into a conduit Workend rstuntil the work end encounters an obstruction, the coil beingsubstantially internally unsupported while it is being so fed, thenafter the work end has encountered an obstruction reinforcing the coilinternally throughout substantially itsentire inner periphery and inturning4 the coil axially, while it is so reinforced, to clear theobstruction from the conduit.

2; The method of cleaning out obstructions from .conduitswhich consistsin feeding a hollow freely flexible spring: wire coil into a conduitWork. endrst until the work end encountersan obstruction, the'coil beingsubstantially internally unsupported While it is being so fed, thenafter thework end has encountered an obstruction bringing. substantiallythe entire inner lperiphery of the. coil into contact with a reinforcingcore membenand in turning the coil axially, while the coiland coref arethus in contact, to clear the obstruction from the conduit.

3. The method of cleaning out obstructions from. conduits which.consists in feeding ahollcw freely iiexible spring wire coil into aconduit work end.iirst until the Work end encounters an obstructiomthecoilbeing substantially internally unsupported while it is' being sofed, then after thezwork end hasencountered an obstruction reinforcingthe coil internally throughout substantially its entire inner periphery,in turning the coil axially, while it is so reinforced, to clear theobstructionA fromthe conduit', and in relieving thegcoilofgitsinternalsupport while withdrawing the coil ,fromthe conduit afterthe obstruction hasI been cleared: fromthe: conduit.

JOHN V. OBRIEN;

No references cited.v

1. THE METHOD OF CLEANING OUT OBSTRUCTIONS FROM CONDUITS WHICH CONSISTSIN FEEDING A HOLLOW FREELY FLEXIBLE SPRING WIRE COIL INTO A CONDUIT WORKEND FIRST UNTIL THE WORK END ENCOUNTERS AND OBSTRUCTION, THE COIL BEINGSUBSTANTIALLY INTERNALLY UNSUPPORTED WHILE IT IS BEING SO FED, THENAFTER THE WORK END HAS ENCOUNTERED AN OBSTRUCTION REINFORCING THE COILINTERNALLY THROUGHOUT SUBSTANTIALLY ITS ENTIRE INNER PERIPHERY AND INTURNING THE COIL AXIALLY, WHILE IT IS SO REINFORCED, TO CLEAR THEOBSTRUCTION FROM THE CONDUIT.